SPC Summer Enrichment Program

BY FRANK DROUZAS, Staff Writer

ST. PETERSBURG — St. Petersburg College (SPC) is now accepting applications for its 2016 Cecil B. Keene Summer Enrichment Program (SEP), which seeks to assist community students to be successful in high school, college and beyond.

“We have this year a two-tier program,” explained La Crecia Wright, coordinator of the program, adding that up to half of the 30 accepted applicants will be in 8 to 10th grades, while the rest will be in the 11th grader.

The program, which will run from June 20 to July 28, is an opportunity for the high school juniors to take a Student Life Skills course taught by a SPC instructor, go on field trips, tour college campuses, explore careers and earn three college credits for free. The 8th to 10th graders will be working on group projects and through the SEP, all students will also have the chance to improve creative and critical thinking skills, ACT and SAT vocabulary, life and time management techniques, study and test-taking strategies and interpersonal communication skills.

The program’s instructors stress time management and organizational skills. Meeting times are Monday through Thursday, from 9-1 p.m. Field trips will be on Thursdays, which can include cultural destinations such as museums and college tours.

Eleventh graders must have an unweighted GPA of 2.5 or higher, Wright explained, and need to take the Post-secondary Education Readiness Test (PERT). The aim of the PERT is to assess academic skills and determine college readiness and course placement. All applicants must interview for a spot on the summer program.

The SEP is beneficial for the students, Wright stressed, because when they go through the program they are better prepared for the rigorous academics of high school and college.

The deadline to apply is May 11. For more information on the 2016 Cecil B. Keene Summer Enrichment Program, visit www.spcollege.edu/cbk/ or call (727) 341-4376.

To reach Frank Drouzas, email fdrouzas@theweeklychallenger.com